What do you think?
Beyond the Lost Coast #1
By the Light of Dead Stars
On the Lost Coast, some things should never be found.
When tragedy shatters thirteen-year-old Zelda Ruiz’s adolescence, she retreats with her uncle Mark to the bucolic town of Greywood Bay. It’s a chance to heal, a chance to build a new life together.
But nothing can prepare them for the malignant terror long coveting these lands.
It looms over redwood groves and lurks among the foundations of homes. It festers in the dark hearts of the wounded. And now, this cosmic horror has found a new weapon: a means to worm its way into our world.
To save their community—and each other—Zelda and Mark will need to confront their darkest demons, both inside and out. For what stalks Greywood Bay hungers for suffering above all else.
And soon, it will feast… By the Light of Dead Stars.
When tragedy shatters thirteen-year-old Zelda Ruiz’s adolescence, she retreats with her uncle Mark to the bucolic town of Greywood Bay. It’s a chance to heal, a chance to build a new life together.
But nothing can prepare them for the malignant terror long coveting these lands.
It looms over redwood groves and lurks among the foundations of homes. It festers in the dark hearts of the wounded. And now, this cosmic horror has found a new weapon: a means to worm its way into our world.
To save their community—and each other—Zelda and Mark will need to confront their darkest demons, both inside and out. For what stalks Greywood Bay hungers for suffering above all else.
And soon, it will feast… By the Light of Dead Stars.
394 pages, Hardcover
Published December 30, 2022
About the author
Andrew Van Wey
19 books603 followersAuthor. Recovering Educator. Expat. Mountain Biker. Hunter of Rare Fountain Pens. Roller of Twenty-Sided Dice. Doggie Dad.
Growing up, I was the kid that always had my nose in a few books I shouldn't have. I reached for Stephen King and Clive Barker at a young age, and watched Re-Animator far too early. I spent most of my childhood chasing nightmares.
Now, I get to share them with you.
Want to go deeper? Explore the characters, locations, and full mythology from Beyond the Lost Coast at the official wiki: greywoodbay.com/wiki/
Growing up, I was the kid that always had my nose in a few books I shouldn't have. I reached for Stephen King and Clive Barker at a young age, and watched Re-Animator far too early. I spent most of my childhood chasing nightmares.
Now, I get to share them with you.
Want to go deeper? Explore the characters, locations, and full mythology from Beyond the Lost Coast at the official wiki: greywoodbay.com/wiki/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
June 13, 2024
By the Light of the Dead Stars is a masterclass in world and character building.
Dead Stars is my third book by this author. I loved Head Like a Hole but disliked Forsaken. So this was my tie-breaker. And wow, did it ever break that tie.
Dead Stars is a cosmic horror with a heavy dose of coming-to-age. The characters are well fleshed out and interesting, the pace is perfect, and the writing is spot on. I have literally nothing bad to say about this book. Can't wait for the second in the series, Tides of Darkness.
Dead Stars is my third book by this author. I loved Head Like a Hole but disliked Forsaken. So this was my tie-breaker. And wow, did it ever break that tie.
Dead Stars is a cosmic horror with a heavy dose of coming-to-age. The characters are well fleshed out and interesting, the pace is perfect, and the writing is spot on. I have literally nothing bad to say about this book. Can't wait for the second in the series, Tides of Darkness.
January 29, 2026
Recently reread: Even after the deeper analysis of a second reading, By the Light of Dead Stars is truly an impressive feat of literature--and yes, this heroine initiation/horror/fantasy/coming of age/grief narrative genre bender is most definitely literature. It's the first in a trilogy, and the third book is recently available to preorder, so now is the perfect time for sci-fi/horror/urban fantasy readers to get into this series.
The basic storyline follows Zelda, a 13 yr. old girl, who has lost her parents, successful computer game designers, in a bizarre and tragic car accident. Her parent's will appointed her uncle custodial guardian, but her grandparents are contesting this. After a break-in which leaves Zelda traumatized and seeing/worrying over odd, swirling dark lights which seem poised at the corners of her vision, her uncle Mark decides they need a fresh start. He finds a summer job and a new home in a new town, Greywood Bay. But just like the uncanny break-in, strange things begin to happen. Zelda's dark lights return as black vapors and shadows, like auras hovering around Greywood Bay's townies. And, in a lovely little Spielberg reference, Uncle Mark wonders out loud if their new home was built on a burial ground, while his girlfriend Stacey jokes about walls dripping blood. While many members of the community try to make light of the oddities that occur in their homes, a growing sense of unease permeates the novel's atmosphere. Something is making this community uneasy, and whatever that something is, it seems to be circling Zelda, like a paranormal shark that only she can see.
BTLODS is told in third person omniscient, and I haven't seen that POV work so cleverly in decades. We primarily follow Zelda's thoughts and experiences, but in a creative use of dramatic irony, readers can see that many other characters are worried about malevolent presence. The author also occasionally slips in a chapter from another character's POV entirely, but these do not occur often enough to fully disrupt the primary narrative following Zelda and Mark. Instead, Van Wey sprinkles them in, just enough to garner suspense & curiosity. Readers don't fully understand how these other characters and their lives work into Zelda's and Mark's until the last 100 pages or so when all narratives converge. The reveal, which I won't spoil, is both surprising and shocking.
On the surface, BTLODS is a beautifully written, gorgeously worded heroine initiation/grief narrative about a young teenager learning to cope with loss and embrace her differences, and a 30-something adult learning to step up to the responsibility of parenting. If the novel just stopped then and there as realism with this surface storyline, it would've still been well worth reading. But the way in which Van Wey delicately weaves in the paranormal and the supernatural is masterful, addictive, frightening, and thought provoking. At first readers wonder if these fantasy/horror elements are merely psychological. We deny them and write them off alongside many of the characters in the novel. But soon enough, these elements are undeniably present, urgent, and consequently deadly, and the remainder of the novel demands that we unravel the mystery of their presence in Zelda's life.
My summary does a poor job of articulating just how unique, weird, and wonderful this book is--it is unlike anything I have ever read. But if I say anything more specific, I will ruin the best moments. So I will have to settle for saying simply that Van Wey casts Zelda's hero initiation in the motif of such a strange, new light that you won't want to miss it.
I am sort of amazed these books haven't been made into special editions by one of gift-book booksellers (or maybe they have and I just never knew it). But I guess my point is that this is one of the most beautifully written, fantasy/horror genres combos I have read in the last two decades...easily in my top 10...and I am surprised it has yet to move far beyond its cult following into the mainstream.
I would love to see a tv series adapted...or a film. It lives up to every last bit of its hype, and I strongly recommend it. Within pages, you will understand exactly what I mean about Van Wey's measured, balanced, beautiful prose. And the plot itself is propulsive.
Themes and main topics include:
heroine initiation, self-actualization, search for personal identity, "found" family, small town bias/labeling/bigotry, "Othering," loss of family members, grief, coming of age, "new kid" loneliness, "chosen one," parenting, strength derived from heritage, good vs. evil as various shades of light, mainstream pop vs. esoteric culture...so, so many. It even touches a bit on our current education system and the duality of science and magic (or what appears as magic to our less advanced culture).
***A note about genres: There's an argument to be made here that BTLODS is actually more sci-fi than fantasy. It is a genre bender. And I recommend it to readers in all camps.
Age levels and appropriateness:
BTLODS is extremely well written and on a fairly high reading level, so while the subject matter is okay for YA readers as young as 13, I think the prose would be challenging (and subsequently frustrating) for anyone under 16 who isn't an advanced reader. I tend to think of this series as "adult" even though its primary protagonist is a young girl. The horror elements include only a bit gore, but there are many murder scenes in which the violence of the act is depicted.
The basic storyline follows Zelda, a 13 yr. old girl, who has lost her parents, successful computer game designers, in a bizarre and tragic car accident. Her parent's will appointed her uncle custodial guardian, but her grandparents are contesting this. After a break-in which leaves Zelda traumatized and seeing/worrying over odd, swirling dark lights which seem poised at the corners of her vision, her uncle Mark decides they need a fresh start. He finds a summer job and a new home in a new town, Greywood Bay. But just like the uncanny break-in, strange things begin to happen. Zelda's dark lights return as black vapors and shadows, like auras hovering around Greywood Bay's townies. And, in a lovely little Spielberg reference, Uncle Mark wonders out loud if their new home was built on a burial ground, while his girlfriend Stacey jokes about walls dripping blood. While many members of the community try to make light of the oddities that occur in their homes, a growing sense of unease permeates the novel's atmosphere. Something is making this community uneasy, and whatever that something is, it seems to be circling Zelda, like a paranormal shark that only she can see.
BTLODS is told in third person omniscient, and I haven't seen that POV work so cleverly in decades. We primarily follow Zelda's thoughts and experiences, but in a creative use of dramatic irony, readers can see that many other characters are worried about malevolent presence. The author also occasionally slips in a chapter from another character's POV entirely, but these do not occur often enough to fully disrupt the primary narrative following Zelda and Mark. Instead, Van Wey sprinkles them in, just enough to garner suspense & curiosity. Readers don't fully understand how these other characters and their lives work into Zelda's and Mark's until the last 100 pages or so when all narratives converge. The reveal, which I won't spoil, is both surprising and shocking.
On the surface, BTLODS is a beautifully written, gorgeously worded heroine initiation/grief narrative about a young teenager learning to cope with loss and embrace her differences, and a 30-something adult learning to step up to the responsibility of parenting. If the novel just stopped then and there as realism with this surface storyline, it would've still been well worth reading. But the way in which Van Wey delicately weaves in the paranormal and the supernatural is masterful, addictive, frightening, and thought provoking. At first readers wonder if these fantasy/horror elements are merely psychological. We deny them and write them off alongside many of the characters in the novel. But soon enough, these elements are undeniably present, urgent, and consequently deadly, and the remainder of the novel demands that we unravel the mystery of their presence in Zelda's life.
My summary does a poor job of articulating just how unique, weird, and wonderful this book is--it is unlike anything I have ever read. But if I say anything more specific, I will ruin the best moments. So I will have to settle for saying simply that Van Wey casts Zelda's hero initiation in the motif of such a strange, new light that you won't want to miss it.
I am sort of amazed these books haven't been made into special editions by one of gift-book booksellers (or maybe they have and I just never knew it). But I guess my point is that this is one of the most beautifully written, fantasy/horror genres combos I have read in the last two decades...easily in my top 10...and I am surprised it has yet to move far beyond its cult following into the mainstream.
I would love to see a tv series adapted...or a film. It lives up to every last bit of its hype, and I strongly recommend it. Within pages, you will understand exactly what I mean about Van Wey's measured, balanced, beautiful prose. And the plot itself is propulsive.
Themes and main topics include:
heroine initiation, self-actualization, search for personal identity, "found" family, small town bias/labeling/bigotry, "Othering," loss of family members, grief, coming of age, "new kid" loneliness, "chosen one," parenting, strength derived from heritage, good vs. evil as various shades of light, mainstream pop vs. esoteric culture...so, so many. It even touches a bit on our current education system and the duality of science and magic (or what appears as magic to our less advanced culture).
***A note about genres: There's an argument to be made here that BTLODS is actually more sci-fi than fantasy. It is a genre bender. And I recommend it to readers in all camps.
Age levels and appropriateness:
BTLODS is extremely well written and on a fairly high reading level, so while the subject matter is okay for YA readers as young as 13, I think the prose would be challenging (and subsequently frustrating) for anyone under 16 who isn't an advanced reader. I tend to think of this series as "adult" even though its primary protagonist is a young girl. The horror elements include only a bit gore, but there are many murder scenes in which the violence of the act is depicted.
July 20, 2024
BY THE LIGHT OF DEAD STARS (Beyond the Lost Coast #1) [2022] By Andrew Van Wey
My Review 5.0 Stars
Horror Aficionados, in addition to their two Group Read selections each month, also offer a terrific feature which is designated as Group Read-Author Invite with two typically sensational reads that readers like me may not necessarily know about. This month’s offerings included “By the Light of Dead Stars” (Beyond the Lost Coast #1) published around Christmas in 2022 and written by author Andrew Van Whey. Andrew dropped by on July 1st to say Hi and to inform his readers that the novel is supernatural and cosmic horror in the vein of “It” and “Stranger Things”. Whey immediately struck me as gregarious, generous, and delighted to stop by and visit with the members of HA Book Club.
I made a strategic error right out of the gate and read the second author invite book selection (Cursed) first. Why would that matter? Well, Cursed was a short (121 pg.), albeit excellent tale of horror by newcomer Leigh Kenny. Conversely, Andrew’s first installment of “The Lost Coast” is just shy of 400 pages and to add spice, cosmic horror is a sub-genre that I must confess is my bête noire (maybe an anathema to me is more accurate). I am chagrined to admit that it took me seven days to finish the book and I would not release my Kindle Notes at gunpoint. Cosmic horror just has a tendence to baffle me as I am trying to puzzle it out.
The author’s input into his novel was wonderful. He is enchanted by a region of California known as the "Lost Coast" which he adds is at the western edge of the continent... and at the edge of our world”. I found it really interesting that he is one of the incredibly imaginative authors whose characters not uncommonly walk into their everyday life. I immediately thought of Burke and his mundane trip to a brick-and-mortar store (I want to say Wal-Mart) and he looked at the kids and the patrons around him and his short horror tale “Sour Candy” was born. In Wey’s novel I was immediately drawn to the characters of Mark and Zelda. He sent them to the haunted town of Greywood Bay and allowed the underlying menace to remain largely hidden while the storyline continued to build momentum and the alliances were formed between the inhabitants of Greywood Bay and the two outsiders Mark and his niece Zelda.
The novel starts strong with the shattering tragedy of 13-year-old Zelda Ruiz’s adolescence as described in chilling detail by the author. The tragic death of her parents Maya and J.C. leads to a bitter battle over the Will and the custody of Zelda. Her uncle Mark, living a stress free and enjoyable life in Spain, experienced a supernatural vision of his sister who appeared to him after death to deliver a blood-chilling message from beyond the grave. Mark assumes custody of his niece against the backdrop of a bitter battle from the paternal grandparents over the recently revised will and its directives. Mark and Zelda relocate to the charming town of Greywood Bay in California.
There is a lot to like about this novel, which was an observation I made from its very beginning. I was unfamiliar with the author, but it was abundantly clear that he is a talented writer with a knack for character development and that he is gifted with a highly readable narrative style. I liked his measured tempo of the pace, and the articulate description and ambience of the new community that Mark and Zelda embrace. His deft manipulation of the gradual darkening of the atmosphere of the story was accomplished with such subtlety that it was all that more effective.
As it becomes more tangible in the story that a malignant threat is indeed looming, and that it is from beyond our time and space, I felt a bit lost and fumbling in my attempt to ascertain the players on the game board. The author brings this important information about the population of Raven’s Valley, and the remaining part of Greywood Bay, into the storyline gradually. There is nothing other-worldly about who is vulnerable since it is the same emptiness or moral ambiguity inside a person that we know the Wendigo will inhabit. Wey writes with a vivid imagination and refreshing originality.
The reader has a clear picture of who in the community has been compromised and is in league with the ancient evil by approximately the second half of the installment. The description of this mind-boggling soul eater from beyond our galaxy was initially quite perplexing to me. Wey’s talent for describing the absolutely indescribable simply blew me away. Necessary elements for the impending holocaust were embedded with little and big surprises, to include unveiling the identity of the aged sentry calling the long dead to battle, and the meaning of the ancient evil’s “emissary” on planet Earth to usher in its destruction. The role of Zelda, “the protector” is brought into crystal focus, as is her allegiance with the guardian and his long-dead troops to save the townsfolk from total annihilation.
The concept of a cosmic horror, a malignant entity that is only waiting for the fabric between our world and the infinity of space to weaken just enough…for Armageddon. Going into yesterday morning I had spent a lot of time with this chilling horror thriller from Andrew Van Wey. I had the final one-third to read which was the showdown between the soldiers who would stand and defend Greywood Bay’s population against an unthinkable evil that I still struggled to bring into a sharp focus. Then it was like déjà vu. I went back to college and had to teach myself some hard science courses, not at all my forte.
I say “teach myself” because I travelled all week and showed up only for the tests. The instructors only put up with such outrageous behavior because I was working away from the city all week, and because I could maintain a 4.0. I taught myself statistics, chemistry, economics, you get the picture. It was so difficult I wanted to scream. But then the clouds would part…and I would eventually understand the concepts. That is what happened in the final one third of this installment. All at once I could mentally float my mind and emotions above the Lost Coast and not only see it all unfold but also understand it fully. It was in full color and no longer a black and white spreadsheet. I do not think I had a dry eye throughout the final one third of the book not to mention my emotions were surging. I felt the book’s ability to transport the reader to another place.
I LOVED it, Andrew. But I will confess that it was exactly like the challenge of my college textbooks. But there was a bonus, too. I believe that I can now understand all of those readers who enjoy the fantasy novels and the horror sub-genre of cosmic horror.
KUDOS TO AN INCREDIBLE AUTHOR AND A SENSATIONAL FIRST INSTALLMENT OF “BEYOND THE LOST COAST”
My Review 5.0 Stars
Horror Aficionados, in addition to their two Group Read selections each month, also offer a terrific feature which is designated as Group Read-Author Invite with two typically sensational reads that readers like me may not necessarily know about. This month’s offerings included “By the Light of Dead Stars” (Beyond the Lost Coast #1) published around Christmas in 2022 and written by author Andrew Van Whey. Andrew dropped by on July 1st to say Hi and to inform his readers that the novel is supernatural and cosmic horror in the vein of “It” and “Stranger Things”. Whey immediately struck me as gregarious, generous, and delighted to stop by and visit with the members of HA Book Club.
I made a strategic error right out of the gate and read the second author invite book selection (Cursed) first. Why would that matter? Well, Cursed was a short (121 pg.), albeit excellent tale of horror by newcomer Leigh Kenny. Conversely, Andrew’s first installment of “The Lost Coast” is just shy of 400 pages and to add spice, cosmic horror is a sub-genre that I must confess is my bête noire (maybe an anathema to me is more accurate). I am chagrined to admit that it took me seven days to finish the book and I would not release my Kindle Notes at gunpoint. Cosmic horror just has a tendence to baffle me as I am trying to puzzle it out.
The author’s input into his novel was wonderful. He is enchanted by a region of California known as the "Lost Coast" which he adds is at the western edge of the continent... and at the edge of our world”. I found it really interesting that he is one of the incredibly imaginative authors whose characters not uncommonly walk into their everyday life. I immediately thought of Burke and his mundane trip to a brick-and-mortar store (I want to say Wal-Mart) and he looked at the kids and the patrons around him and his short horror tale “Sour Candy” was born. In Wey’s novel I was immediately drawn to the characters of Mark and Zelda. He sent them to the haunted town of Greywood Bay and allowed the underlying menace to remain largely hidden while the storyline continued to build momentum and the alliances were formed between the inhabitants of Greywood Bay and the two outsiders Mark and his niece Zelda.
The novel starts strong with the shattering tragedy of 13-year-old Zelda Ruiz’s adolescence as described in chilling detail by the author. The tragic death of her parents Maya and J.C. leads to a bitter battle over the Will and the custody of Zelda. Her uncle Mark, living a stress free and enjoyable life in Spain, experienced a supernatural vision of his sister who appeared to him after death to deliver a blood-chilling message from beyond the grave. Mark assumes custody of his niece against the backdrop of a bitter battle from the paternal grandparents over the recently revised will and its directives. Mark and Zelda relocate to the charming town of Greywood Bay in California.
There is a lot to like about this novel, which was an observation I made from its very beginning. I was unfamiliar with the author, but it was abundantly clear that he is a talented writer with a knack for character development and that he is gifted with a highly readable narrative style. I liked his measured tempo of the pace, and the articulate description and ambience of the new community that Mark and Zelda embrace. His deft manipulation of the gradual darkening of the atmosphere of the story was accomplished with such subtlety that it was all that more effective.
As it becomes more tangible in the story that a malignant threat is indeed looming, and that it is from beyond our time and space, I felt a bit lost and fumbling in my attempt to ascertain the players on the game board. The author brings this important information about the population of Raven’s Valley, and the remaining part of Greywood Bay, into the storyline gradually. There is nothing other-worldly about who is vulnerable since it is the same emptiness or moral ambiguity inside a person that we know the Wendigo will inhabit. Wey writes with a vivid imagination and refreshing originality.
The reader has a clear picture of who in the community has been compromised and is in league with the ancient evil by approximately the second half of the installment. The description of this mind-boggling soul eater from beyond our galaxy was initially quite perplexing to me. Wey’s talent for describing the absolutely indescribable simply blew me away. Necessary elements for the impending holocaust were embedded with little and big surprises, to include unveiling the identity of the aged sentry calling the long dead to battle, and the meaning of the ancient evil’s “emissary” on planet Earth to usher in its destruction. The role of Zelda, “the protector” is brought into crystal focus, as is her allegiance with the guardian and his long-dead troops to save the townsfolk from total annihilation.
The concept of a cosmic horror, a malignant entity that is only waiting for the fabric between our world and the infinity of space to weaken just enough…for Armageddon. Going into yesterday morning I had spent a lot of time with this chilling horror thriller from Andrew Van Wey. I had the final one-third to read which was the showdown between the soldiers who would stand and defend Greywood Bay’s population against an unthinkable evil that I still struggled to bring into a sharp focus. Then it was like déjà vu. I went back to college and had to teach myself some hard science courses, not at all my forte.
I say “teach myself” because I travelled all week and showed up only for the tests. The instructors only put up with such outrageous behavior because I was working away from the city all week, and because I could maintain a 4.0. I taught myself statistics, chemistry, economics, you get the picture. It was so difficult I wanted to scream. But then the clouds would part…and I would eventually understand the concepts. That is what happened in the final one third of this installment. All at once I could mentally float my mind and emotions above the Lost Coast and not only see it all unfold but also understand it fully. It was in full color and no longer a black and white spreadsheet. I do not think I had a dry eye throughout the final one third of the book not to mention my emotions were surging. I felt the book’s ability to transport the reader to another place.
I LOVED it, Andrew. But I will confess that it was exactly like the challenge of my college textbooks. But there was a bonus, too. I believe that I can now understand all of those readers who enjoy the fantasy novels and the horror sub-genre of cosmic horror.
KUDOS TO AN INCREDIBLE AUTHOR AND A SENSATIONAL FIRST INSTALLMENT OF “BEYOND THE LOST COAST”
February 7, 2024
I liked Zelda, her friends and her uncle so much, but really there wasn't a character that I thought was poorly written. The multiple sides of the story came together very well at the end so it made for a pretty satisfying reading experience.
More of a 4.25.
More of a 4.25.
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November 20, 2023
This was...disappointing. For such a short book, it felt like it took forever to get where it was going, but lacked the focus or the satisfactory conclusion to justify the journey.
I suspect Van Wey was trying to handle too many conflicting or overlapping threads -- cosmic horror, small-town life, corrupt police, corrupt real estate moguls, family drama, teen drama, coming-of-age, social satire, struggles with substance abuse -- and so they all wound up feeling thin and empty. WHY was the human villain bad? WHY did the uncle stop drinking? WHY did nobody care that an abducted & tortured teen boy's phone was found in a crazy hermit's tumbledown shack? WHY did the uncle & niece suddenly develop a deep bond when the book had previously established they barely interacted at all? WHY did the cosmic menace need a human emissary? Also, WHY the tentacles on the cover when this had next to nothing to do with anything even tangentially related to the sea or pseudo-Lovecraftian? The end result is a limp, hollow mess that begs for a sequel it hasn't earned.
Also, there were times when I couldn't tell whether Van Wey was legitimately a devout California Progressive or was attempting to lambaste the sickening excesses of that particular regional political demographic. If the former, he did a piss-poor job of evangelizing -- if the latter, his satire was flaccid at best.
I suspect Van Wey was trying to handle too many conflicting or overlapping threads -- cosmic horror, small-town life, corrupt police, corrupt real estate moguls, family drama, teen drama, coming-of-age, social satire, struggles with substance abuse -- and so they all wound up feeling thin and empty. WHY was the human villain bad? WHY did the uncle stop drinking? WHY did nobody care that an abducted & tortured teen boy's phone was found in a crazy hermit's tumbledown shack? WHY did the uncle & niece suddenly develop a deep bond when the book had previously established they barely interacted at all? WHY did the cosmic menace need a human emissary? Also, WHY the tentacles on the cover when this had next to nothing to do with anything even tangentially related to the sea or pseudo-Lovecraftian? The end result is a limp, hollow mess that begs for a sequel it hasn't earned.
Also, there were times when I couldn't tell whether Van Wey was legitimately a devout California Progressive or was attempting to lambaste the sickening excesses of that particular regional political demographic. If the former, he did a piss-poor job of evangelizing -- if the latter, his satire was flaccid at best.
December 29, 2022
"Something was coming for him. Something cosmic and ancient. A thing he could no longer hide from"
I devoured this novel! I cannot express how much I enjoyed this story and it's characters! If you're a fan of Stranger Things, IT or stories that follow the horrors that lie within a small town with some bad-ass teen protagonists, this is the story for you my friend! Horror and science fiction bundled into one little package all tied together with a creepy little cosmic bow that eerily resembles a tentacle..
This novel follows the story of Mark and his Niece Zelda who move to this small town to get away from tragic memories but end up stumbling upon a threat to the people of the community and the world! Andrew Van Wey has an incredible way of describing these other worldly characters, really bringing them to life no matter how disturbing and non-humanoid they are! The way his characters and their development are written is incredible! I went from hating certain characters, to feeling immense pity and sadness for them! I even teared up while reading the final few chapters! His writing is so descriptive and simple that it makes his work such a quick and enjoyable read, really making this an immersive experience for the reader! I'm also a huge fan of his use of short chapters, they really keep you pulled in!!
I genuinely couldn't put this book down. It was a little slow at the beginning, but a few chapters in I didn't want to stop! I was sneaking reads in work just to find out what was going to happen next! Andrew Van Wey is such a wonderful author who knows how to build a world perfect for the science fiction, horror crossover and I am beyond excited and eager for the continuation of this series!! I need some more bad-ass Zelda and newbie Dad Mark moments! Small town, dark history, powerful cosmic creature lurking in the shadows, what more could you ask for in a novel!?
Thank you so much to the author Andrew Van Wey for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I pre-ordered the physical copy the minute I finished reading because I need it in my collection!!
I devoured this novel! I cannot express how much I enjoyed this story and it's characters! If you're a fan of Stranger Things, IT or stories that follow the horrors that lie within a small town with some bad-ass teen protagonists, this is the story for you my friend! Horror and science fiction bundled into one little package all tied together with a creepy little cosmic bow that eerily resembles a tentacle..
This novel follows the story of Mark and his Niece Zelda who move to this small town to get away from tragic memories but end up stumbling upon a threat to the people of the community and the world! Andrew Van Wey has an incredible way of describing these other worldly characters, really bringing them to life no matter how disturbing and non-humanoid they are! The way his characters and their development are written is incredible! I went from hating certain characters, to feeling immense pity and sadness for them! I even teared up while reading the final few chapters! His writing is so descriptive and simple that it makes his work such a quick and enjoyable read, really making this an immersive experience for the reader! I'm also a huge fan of his use of short chapters, they really keep you pulled in!!
I genuinely couldn't put this book down. It was a little slow at the beginning, but a few chapters in I didn't want to stop! I was sneaking reads in work just to find out what was going to happen next! Andrew Van Wey is such a wonderful author who knows how to build a world perfect for the science fiction, horror crossover and I am beyond excited and eager for the continuation of this series!! I need some more bad-ass Zelda and newbie Dad Mark moments! Small town, dark history, powerful cosmic creature lurking in the shadows, what more could you ask for in a novel!?
Thank you so much to the author Andrew Van Wey for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I pre-ordered the physical copy the minute I finished reading because I need it in my collection!!
February 15, 2024
Welp, that's it. Andrew Van Wey has officially become an auto-buy author. Head Like a Hole was one of my top 3 reads a year ago, and this might well have been better. It's hard to say, but everything about this worked.
Pacing? Check.
Lovable characters? Check
Freaky Imagery? Check
Existential Dread? CheckCheckCheckCheckCheck
Eaglery awaiting Part 2 of this series. Readers, do yourself a favor and take a trip down to the Lost Coast.
Pacing? Check.
Lovable characters? Check
Freaky Imagery? Check
Existential Dread? CheckCheckCheckCheckCheck
Eaglery awaiting Part 2 of this series. Readers, do yourself a favor and take a trip down to the Lost Coast.
February 25, 2023
Zelda Ruiz, whose parent’s own a software game company, finds her life changed suddenly and drastically. She ends up with her uncle, Mark Fitzsimmons. Mark has flown from his home in Spain to California to take care of her. They find a home in a new development and Zelda makes some new friends, Ali and Maura, at summer school. From then on, chaos ensues. There’s a creepy old man who makes creepy sculptures. There’s a creepy young man who starts hearing voices. All in all, I found the story to be sufficiently creepy. There’s also a bit of scifi thrown in. Because there are a few young teenagers in the story, at first, I thought it might be a YA novel, but because of some of the language, I changed my mind. This is the first book in a series about Zelda. I really liked Zelda and her Uncle Mark but am currently undecided as to whether I’ll continue reading about their adventures, but I did like this one.
November 8, 2024
4.0⭐️
I like this novel significantly more than the previous novel I read by Van Wey, Head Like a Hole. I’ll definitely be reading the second book, Tides of Darkness, in his creepy-fun Beyond the Lost Coast cosmic horror duology.
I like this novel significantly more than the previous novel I read by Van Wey, Head Like a Hole. I’ll definitely be reading the second book, Tides of Darkness, in his creepy-fun Beyond the Lost Coast cosmic horror duology.
February 13, 2025
I can’t say it enough, what an amazing story! I was so captivated by the characters and the plot. I was sick to my stomach worried that something was going to happen to each of these characters and of course, something does but that is why we read.
The world building on this cosmic horror is second to none. The book can be read as a stand alone story but I am so excited to be able to jump back into the Lost Coast with book two. Yet at the same time I am so nervous for these wonderful characters.
The world building on this cosmic horror is second to none. The book can be read as a stand alone story but I am so excited to be able to jump back into the Lost Coast with book two. Yet at the same time I am so nervous for these wonderful characters.
January 26, 2023
Well I’ll never play a Zelda game again without thinking of this book.
March 13, 2023
Ahhh! Don’t wait, get your hands on this book ASAP!!
Cosmic horror ✅
Eerie atmosphere & creeping sensation of dread whilst reading✅
From the get go, this book is intense and delves deeper and deeper into the darkness. Some scenes did still make me chuckle: “And there, near the bottom, was that marble starfish.”
The author’s prose puts you into the moment so that you can really visualize and experience each moment of emotion, every bit of dialogue.
This is just the beginning for certain characters in this story, the author is planning a sequel (or series), so get attached to them. Truly, they are well written and interesting, I just want to hang out and fight cosmic horror with Zelda and Mark. Greywood Bay, despite the tragedies and doorways and all that, sounds like a cool place to settle down in.
Thank you so much to the author for introducing me to this horrifying story and I can’t wait to read more!
Thank you also for the copy that was provided to read and review.
Cosmic horror ✅
Eerie atmosphere & creeping sensation of dread whilst reading✅
From the get go, this book is intense and delves deeper and deeper into the darkness. Some scenes did still make me chuckle: “And there, near the bottom, was that marble starfish.”
The author’s prose puts you into the moment so that you can really visualize and experience each moment of emotion, every bit of dialogue.
This is just the beginning for certain characters in this story, the author is planning a sequel (or series), so get attached to them. Truly, they are well written and interesting, I just want to hang out and fight cosmic horror with Zelda and Mark. Greywood Bay, despite the tragedies and doorways and all that, sounds like a cool place to settle down in.
Thank you so much to the author for introducing me to this horrifying story and I can’t wait to read more!
Thank you also for the copy that was provided to read and review.
August 28, 2025
3.5 stars
June 22, 2024
This is my new favorite Andrew Van Wey book. The hype around this one is really, really real and I can easily see how it was voted in the final 32 in the Books of Horror Indie Author Brawl. The characters feel like real people and the story is intricately plotted, told from several character's perspectives. I recently received an ARC of the second book, and I can't wait to dive in. 5 stars
May 19, 2023
This will be a more personal review than most. By the Light of Dead Stars by Andrew Van Wey wasn't at all what I was prepared for. After Head Like a Hole, he offered a few codes up for this one on audible, and I decided to take him up on another book for a review. With a lot going on in my life right now, Andrew's books are a great escape from my reality.... except this one. While there are monsters and cosmic horror, there's a lot of real life. A LOT. Zelda is dealing with grief, and while I'm 20 years older than the 13 year old main character, I wasn't prepared to have a book that forced me into dealing with my own. I had to take a break for a day with this one. Zelda moves to get a fresh start with her Uncle Mark and meets 2 new friends named Ali and Maura. Ali is a young Iraqi boy. This was another real-life horror for me. While I don't look it and my name definitely doesn't give it away, I'm part Middle Eastern. The hatred and racism Ali faces through the book were some very real things I got to face head-on after 9-11 around the same age. I messaged Andrew both about the grief and the horror that is racism and thanked him. You don't often find raw realism in horror books. Though they are made up of make-believe and real horrors always. This one was different. This one rocked my world in a way I wasn't prepared for in the slightest. Zelda is the protector. It's weird to admit a fictional character possibly protected me, too. I can't recommend this book enough. Maybe to help with grief. Maybe to question internal bias. Maybe just for the insane story that unfolds. Maybe you're not ready to deal with the 6 you pick up Head Like a Hole first. Just make sure you get to this one. There's something truly different about it. The world building is there, the character building is there, but there's something else too you just don't prepare for in horror.
December 24, 2022
3.75 stars.
The reason for not giving more stars is simple: this book resembled "Head Full of Holes" in too many areas. Evil entity takes over a new housing development with destructive and horrifying results. Though well written, the similarities were too stark to warrant 4 stars.
When the plot did diverge from "Head Full of Holes," it was better written than "HFOH." Crisper character development, better and more detailed world building and surprising plot twists managed to differentiate this book from its predecessor. But only barely.
If you read and liked "HFOH," than you will like "BTLODS," as well.
The reason for not giving more stars is simple: this book resembled "Head Full of Holes" in too many areas. Evil entity takes over a new housing development with destructive and horrifying results. Though well written, the similarities were too stark to warrant 4 stars.
When the plot did diverge from "Head Full of Holes," it was better written than "HFOH." Crisper character development, better and more detailed world building and surprising plot twists managed to differentiate this book from its predecessor. But only barely.
If you read and liked "HFOH," than you will like "BTLODS," as well.
April 30, 2024
A brilliant cosmic horror that builds in intensity and atmosphere as the story progresses. I really loved the characters, who felt really real and well fleshed out, and I was rooting through them throughout. I can't wait to read the next one, and find out what happens next! The narrator did a good job.
October 15, 2024
Alittle bit of a slow burn at first, but then things got pretty wild! Enjoyed this one more than I thought I would!
🌟🌟🌟
3.8 Stars rounded up to 4
🌟🌟🌟
3.8 Stars rounded up to 4
September 18, 2023
Where do I even begin?
Zelda loses her parents and ends up living with an uncle who has forgotten how to live in the US, probably drinks too much, and cares oh so much for her. They find themselves in Greywood Bay in a community where everything seems pretty perfect. Zelda makes friends. The uncle is working a job and maybe has some prospects. Things are looking up. Only you probably shouldn’t be looking up too often or too closely in Greywood Bay. Something just might be looking back.
This book was perfect to me. It was well written and kept me coming back for more. I finished it in under 24 hours. I want to read it again and I want the next book now!
This author has a great way of showcasing the humanity of each individual. He is able to show the nuance of being a human in a way that makes you care about each character even when you don’t like them. Pacing is exquisite. Creepiness is on point.
I realize now that cosmic horror is my absolute favorite and I need more of it.
Content warnings include death of parents, animal abuse/death (nothing too overt), fire.
I would recommend this to anyone that feels like they want to like horror but not sure they can do it. Also to the seasoned horror fan who just…gets it.
Zelda loses her parents and ends up living with an uncle who has forgotten how to live in the US, probably drinks too much, and cares oh so much for her. They find themselves in Greywood Bay in a community where everything seems pretty perfect. Zelda makes friends. The uncle is working a job and maybe has some prospects. Things are looking up. Only you probably shouldn’t be looking up too often or too closely in Greywood Bay. Something just might be looking back.
This book was perfect to me. It was well written and kept me coming back for more. I finished it in under 24 hours. I want to read it again and I want the next book now!
This author has a great way of showcasing the humanity of each individual. He is able to show the nuance of being a human in a way that makes you care about each character even when you don’t like them. Pacing is exquisite. Creepiness is on point.
I realize now that cosmic horror is my absolute favorite and I need more of it.
Content warnings include death of parents, animal abuse/death (nothing too overt), fire.
I would recommend this to anyone that feels like they want to like horror but not sure they can do it. Also to the seasoned horror fan who just…gets it.
November 22, 2024
This book was hyped up to me as cosmic horror and it is only cosmic horror light. I didn’t like the book, it’s pretty boring for the first 3/4s of the story. For a horror book, there’s very little action and not much scary stuff. I am pretty disappointed.
Zelda’s parents are killed in a car accident and her uncle is granted custody. They decide to start fresh and leave the Bay Area for a suburb. In their new town, they settle into a neighborhood full of smart houses. Because Zelda failed math at the end of last school year, she begins summer school and meets two new friends who also live in her neighborhood. Most of the plot is centered around Zelda dealing with the grief of her parents’ sudden deaths and fitting into a new place, as well as her uncle’s struggle with alcoholism and role as a guardian. Very little happens other than a neighbor slowly losing his mind as some kind of cosmic creature infiltrates him and convinces him to start killing animals, then people. This is most of the book until the last fifty or so pages.
As I said, I did not like this book at all. It’s boring, although I did really enjoy Zelda and her friends’ interactions. It reminded me of what it was like to be 13. Other than that, my recommendation is to skip this one. I don’t understand the hype.
Zelda’s parents are killed in a car accident and her uncle is granted custody. They decide to start fresh and leave the Bay Area for a suburb. In their new town, they settle into a neighborhood full of smart houses. Because Zelda failed math at the end of last school year, she begins summer school and meets two new friends who also live in her neighborhood. Most of the plot is centered around Zelda dealing with the grief of her parents’ sudden deaths and fitting into a new place, as well as her uncle’s struggle with alcoholism and role as a guardian. Very little happens other than a neighbor slowly losing his mind as some kind of cosmic creature infiltrates him and convinces him to start killing animals, then people. This is most of the book until the last fifty or so pages.
As I said, I did not like this book at all. It’s boring, although I did really enjoy Zelda and her friends’ interactions. It reminded me of what it was like to be 13. Other than that, my recommendation is to skip this one. I don’t understand the hype.
April 4, 2023
When tragedy strikes 13yr old Zelda’s life she moves with her uncle Mark to the town of Greywood Bay.
But evil covets these lands, it lurks in the new homes and hearts of the inhabitants and it now has a new way into our world. It craves suffering and Zelda and Mark must face their darkest thoughts to stand against it before it rises “By the Light of Dead Stars”.
This is cosmic horror at its finest, a small town, recently built on ancient lands, with new technology giving a way in for the old ones. You care what happens to the characters, they are very flawed and very human. The story starts with a bang and rarely lets up, there are brief chapters of scene setting and backstory but when it gets going it flies. There is a descent into depravity for some characters that is gloriously dark. The horror creeps insidiously through each house in this newly built town, weird occurrences in the homes are shrugged off as new house “teething problems” until it’s too late. Great read!
I listened to this on audio and the narrator was excellent.
But evil covets these lands, it lurks in the new homes and hearts of the inhabitants and it now has a new way into our world. It craves suffering and Zelda and Mark must face their darkest thoughts to stand against it before it rises “By the Light of Dead Stars”.
This is cosmic horror at its finest, a small town, recently built on ancient lands, with new technology giving a way in for the old ones. You care what happens to the characters, they are very flawed and very human. The story starts with a bang and rarely lets up, there are brief chapters of scene setting and backstory but when it gets going it flies. There is a descent into depravity for some characters that is gloriously dark. The horror creeps insidiously through each house in this newly built town, weird occurrences in the homes are shrugged off as new house “teething problems” until it’s too late. Great read!
I listened to this on audio and the narrator was excellent.
December 5, 2022
Zelda and Mark's lives have been turned upside down, and they're forced to figure out the way forward together. They each receive a cryptic message from Zelda's mother that neither can decipher. A move to Greywood Bay and new friends - the future is looking up.
Chester has spent the last 30 years preparing for a coming event in Greywood Bay, even though he has been dubbed the crazy old guy. Legend about Chester runs amok through the youth in town.
Lloyd's near-death experience changed him completely - and not for the better. He's been recruited to attain ascension by an old being that has had Greywood Bay on its radar for ages.
Can Greywood Bay survive this, or will a union of old forces triumph?
Chester has spent the last 30 years preparing for a coming event in Greywood Bay, even though he has been dubbed the crazy old guy. Legend about Chester runs amok through the youth in town.
Lloyd's near-death experience changed him completely - and not for the better. He's been recruited to attain ascension by an old being that has had Greywood Bay on its radar for ages.
Can Greywood Bay survive this, or will a union of old forces triumph?
January 29, 2024
Exceptionally slow paced to the point of being unbearable. Forcing myself to read this was a chore.
June 25, 2024
This was fantastic. Full review coming soon.
August 14, 2023
This book blew my mind! I can’t believe how good it was. The writing was amazing, totally gripping me from the first page. The setting and the characters are so well written, you instantly get attached to them and feel like you’re in the story. Though, it is a horror novel, so you kind of don’t want to be in the story.lol
This by no means a bloodbath horror story. There are a couple moments that make it qualify as horror, but that’s not the book. The book is more then it’s genre. It’s an excellent story about a girl and her uncle, adjusting to life together in a new town. Oh and the girl sees dead people, there is a strange supernatural demonlike god living down the road, and a psycho teen neighbor is killing off people to sacrifice to it. Lol it’s a lot, but it works.
This is my first Andrew Van Wey book, but I don’t believe it’s the first book in The Lost Cost books. I believe the first is, Head Like A Hole. Which I have, but for some reason read this one first. It doesn’t seem like they need to be read in order anyway. This book was an excellent standalone. I really recommend it to those who want to try horror, but are afraid of getting grossed out on the first try.
September 30, 2026
This is the 3rd book I have read by this author and I have loved them all. I grew up on Stephen King and this reminds me of a lot of his earlier stuff (which happens to be my favorite). The opening scene is phenomenal and you know you are in for it. And it just gets wild from there. I love the supernatural evil flavor and the regular kids fighting against it. A fantastic read.
December 24, 2022
Absolutely loved this book, a cosmic horror story, and already cannot wait for book 2. Andrew's writing ability and the plots he comes up with never cease to amaze me. Fully relatable characters, great storyline that had me guessing from page 1 and didn't want to put it down.
This is the fourth book I've read now by this author and every one has been outstanding. Highly recommend this if you love cosmic horror with a great plot!
This is the fourth book I've read now by this author and every one has been outstanding. Highly recommend this if you love cosmic horror with a great plot!
April 12, 2024
I wasn't sure in the beginning if I like the book/story. It moved weirdly (and that is the only way this description that makes sense to me), however, the second half of the book the story moved more in a straight line. By the second half I know what bugged me, the characters seemed a bit one dimensional to me. They definitely got better as the story progressed but a dash of more feelings were missing. At least that's how it feels to me. The end is phenomenal. This story is unique and it has elements of sci-fi, paranormal mixed with some horror. A very good mixture in my opinion.
I will read the 2nd one for sure because I need to know how Zelda's and Mark's story continue against J'harr.
I will read the 2nd one for sure because I need to know how Zelda's and Mark's story continue against J'harr.
February 5, 2023
There's something about this author that keeps me coming back. I first read Head Like a Hole and really liked it. This one dragged in pacing which is why only 3 stars plus I'm not a fan of the coming of age horror trope.
June 13, 2024
The title is the best part of this book.
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